Ruben Amorim confirmed that some players could leave Milan before the transfer window shuts, but declined to promise any further arrivals when he faced reporters ahead of Sunday's home game against Venezia.
The press conference came off the back of an encouraging start, with Milan controlling 70 minutes of the season opener at Torino and building a 2-0 lead before a late home goal cut the margin. Now the focus turns to San Siro, and to the five days that remain before the mercato closes on both incoming and outgoing business.
Rafael Leão will not feature against Venezia. "Leao isn't ready to be called up; he's only trained once and won't be playing," Amorim said, before pushing every question about the Portuguese winger's future five days down the road. "We can talk about this in five days. It's difficult to talk about individual situations. In the next press conference I'll tell you everything about the transfer market." He was clear on the talent, if not the plan: "Leao is a very strong player and, if he's in the right mindset, he can play for any team in the world."
On whether more signings are coming, Amorim kept the door open without committing to anything. "I don't know what will happen between now and the end of the transfer window. If someone arrives, it'll be because they can help us both now and in the future." He twice returned to the idea of "surprises," citing the Cissé situation as precedent, but insisted the squad cannot be fixed in a single window: "We can't think of solving all the problems in a single transfer window. It will take time to get everything in order."
The trio of Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and Santiago Giménez have been left out, and Amorim framed the decision as a numbers problem rather than a verdict on the players. "It's not that they're not excellent players and excellent men, but it's impossible to train with 27 players at your disposal," he said. "The transfer window is open, but my focus is on Venezia." Their status beyond the deadline was left unanswered.
Amorim's rotation policy runs underneath all of it. He wants "stability" but insists Milan cannot field the same eleven across Serie A and Europa League fixtures, hence the need to drill every player on his concepts. On the wings, Diego Moreira can cover for or partner Samuel Chukwueze without altering the team's shape, while Bartesaghi can drop into a back three when required.
Adrien Rabiot drew the warmest words. Decisive at Torino after just three training sessions, the Frenchman is central to the plan, and Amorim confirmed a renewal is on the table. "Adrien is a crucial player for our project. We wanted to keep him, and if the opportunity arises, we'll have to renew his contract. He knows it." Rabiot can operate as a midfielder or an attacking midfielder, a role Amorim noted he filled well at Marseille.
Mike Maignan, the subject of plenty of summer noise, is another Amorim wants to keep. "He's a leader. He demands respect, and we want him to stay here," the coach said, adding that the goalkeeper looks settled with the new goalkeeping coach. Christian Pulisic, still recovering, will not start but could get minutes.
The one worry Amorim carried into the presser was history. Milan lost last season's San Siro opener to Cremonese and never fully shook the pattern of stumbling against supposedly lesser sides. His answer was consistency, not selection. "If we stay focused, we can beat anyone. If we're not always focused, we can lose even against a Serie B team."
With the squad still in flux and the deadline five days out, Amorim has handed himself a clean line: nothing on the mercato until it closes. Until then, the only answers come on the pitch, starting Sunday at San Siro.